A federal judge has decided to step aside from the marriage equality lawsuit in Arkansas that seeks to overturn the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage. Edge Boston reports:

U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes on Thursday ordered that the lawsuit challenging the ban be assigned to another judge. Holmes cited personal and professional relationships with leaders who drafted and campaigned for the ban that was approved by voters in 2004. Holmes wrote that the relationships developed in 1980s working on issues similar, but not identical, to the gay marriage ban.

We give him a lot of credit for recognizing the possible conflict of interest – it seems to be a rare trait these days (and yes, we’re looking at you, Justice Scalia).